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Detroit Pistons: 25 Best Players To Play For The Pistons

By Phil Watson

Oct 8, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; A general view of The Palace of Auburn Hills prior to the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Brooklyn Nets. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; A general view of The Palace of Auburn Hills prior to the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Brooklyn Nets. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Original Caption) October 18, 1959-Minneapolis, Minnesota: Minneapolis Lakers' Elgin Baylor grabs a rebound off Detroit's board during the first half of the NBA opener. Reaching for the ball are Detroit's Barney Cable (9) and Bailey Howell (18). At left is Alex Ellis (12) of Minneapolis. The Pistons won, 106-105.
(Original Caption) October 18, 1959-Minneapolis, Minnesota: Minneapolis Lakers’ Elgin Baylor grabs a rebound off Detroit’s board during the first half of the NBA opener. Reaching for the ball is Detroit’s Bailey Howell (18). The Pistons won, 106-105. /

SF-PF. . Bailey Howell. 11. player. 64. <strong>How acquired:</strong> 2nd overall pick from Mississippi State, 1959 NBA Draft.

Bailey Howell was an All-American as a junior and senior at Mississippi State, averaging 27.1 points and 17.0 rebounds per game in his three-year varsity career.

That got the attention of the Detroit Pistons, who took Howell with the second overall pick in the 1959 NBA Draft.

DET_11_HOWELL
DET_11_HOWELL /

He didn’t disappoint, earning All-NBA honors in 1962-63 and being picked for four All-Star games while with the Pistons.

Initially plugged in at power forward, Howell continued his tough scoring and tenacious rebounding after moving to the small forward position, finishing fifth in the NBA in rebounding in 1960-61, while he was fourth in field-goal percentage in 1962-63 and fifth in 1960-61.

He was at the center of a blockbuster trade in June 1964, when he was dealt to the Baltimore Bullets along with Bob Ferry, Don Ohl, Wali Jones and Les Hunter in exchange for Terry Dischinger, Rod Thorn and Don Kojis.

In five seasons for Detroit, Howell averaged 21.1 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 35.7 minutes per game, shooting 47.6 percent from the floor and 77.4 percent at the foul line.

An All-Star for the Bullets in 1966, Howell was fifth in the NBA in field-goal percentage in 1964-65.

He was traded to the Boston Celtics in September 1966, picking up his last All-Star nod in 1967 and playing for title teams in both 1968 and 1969. Howell was third in teh league in field-goal percentage in 1966-67.

Selected by the Buffalo Braves in the May 1970 expansion draft, he was traded the same day to the Philadelphia 76ers, retiring after a single season with that club.

Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997, Howell is 45th in NBA history with 9,383 reboundsnad 47th with an average of 9.9 rebounds per game.

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